Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fang
Approaching footsteps have me shoving Winter behind me and drawing my weapon. We saw all the Hollow Bones flee, but you never know. One of them bastards could have hidden until finding the right time to come hunt us down.
“Yo, it’s me.” Zero waves a hand in front of the open door before stepping into view.
I relax and tuck the gun in the back of my pants. “How’s it looking out there?” My sole focus was on getting back to Winter and making sure she was okay after we ran off the remaining Hollow Bones. Selfishly, I left my brothers to deal with sweeping the area and cleaning up the bodies.
“The area is secure. As for the bodies, they’re loaded in the van and ready to be hauled to the dump.
” The dump is not like a trash dump. Well, it is but it isn’t.
It’s a farm on the outskirts of town where we dump bodies off in the pig pens.
Those hogs go crazy over fresh meat. “Oh, I have someone for ya.”
Raising a brow, I ask, “Someone for me?” If it were one of my brothers, there would be no need for announcing they were here to see me.
Without saying another word, Zero moves aside, and a dark-haired woman rushes into the food truck. I recognize her from earlier. It’s Winter’s friend. Jelly, I think her name is. “Win?”
At the sound of her friend’s voice, Winter releases my cut, where she had a death grip on the leather, and steps around me. “Jelly. Oh, thank God you’re alive. I was so worried about you.” She throws her arms around her friend.
While the two of them have their moment, I step out of the food truck to talk to Zero. Though, I never leave her line of sight. I can’t. The thought of something happening to her rips at my heart. It’s a protectiveness I haven’t felt since Vile.
“We need to get back to the clubhouse, Sinner is calling church.” Zero looks behind me where the girls are chatting quietly. “What are your plans with her?”
“Her name is Winter.” Gazing over at the food truck, I catch her staring at me. Nodding, I give her a smile and turn back to my brother. “She’s coming with me. Jelly too, I suspect.” It doesn’t look like Winter is going anywhere without her friend, and I can’t say I blame her.
“I’ll let Sinner know.” Zero pulls his cell phone free, dialing my uncle as he waltzes off into the night.
Local law enforcement, friends of ours, have tended to the civilians we had in attendance tonight. Outside of two casualties, our guests escaped unharmed. Thank the good Lord we have a few of them on our side, otherwise we’d be coming up with bale money.
Winter rushes to me the minute Zero is out of sight. She’s careful of my gunshot wound. “Listen, I want you coming back to the clubhouse with me.” I feel her stiffen in my arms. “Your friend is more than welcome to tag along.”
At those words, Jelly exits the truck and places her hand on Winter’s shoulder. “Honestly, Win, I think it’s a great idea.” Her gaze meets mine. “Besides, who better to protect us than the Iron Devils.”
“Perfect.” I shoot off a text to Zero.
Round up one of our guys to give Jelly a ride to the clubhouse. She’s in no shape to drive, and I’m not about to let Winter out of my sight.
Zero:
Give me five minutes and I’ll take her myself.
“Zero’s coming back to give you a ride.”
Jelly shakes her head. “That’s not necessary, I have my car. We’ll follow you.”
Kissing the top of Winter’s head, because I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to her, I give a head shake of my own.
“Absolutely not. This girl is not leaving my sight, and you are in no shape to drive.” She opens her mouth to protest, but I speak over her.
“It’s non-negotiable. Zero will give you a ride and one of our people will drive your car to the compound. ”
Jelly rolls her eyes. “Damn, you’re bossy.”
The bike roars through town. Pumpkins littering yards.
Ghosts, witches, and bats hanging from the trees.
People have long been in bed, most likely sleeping from a sugar crash.
Winter clings to me like her life is on the line.
Which, it was quite literally, just an hour ago.
Since we mounted my bike, she hasn’t said a word.
I’m sure she’s processing everything I told her about the Hollow Bones and my father and brother.
We turn off on a dirt road a mile long. There are no houses out here—well, there’s one, but it’s abandoned.
All of this is our land. Most of this land is wooded and we use it to hunt.
Mostly animals, but occasionally we do hunt people.
Never an innocent. No, if we hunt a person, it’s because they are a threat. Not just to us but to society.
Up ahead is our compound, concreate walls surround our premises. As we pull up to the large iron gate, Dawg and Ruffas—our prospects—are standing guard with rifles in hand. They set their weapons to the side and open the gates to let us through.
Dim porch lights cast shadows across the yard. I park my bike in line with the others, off to the side of the building. A few of my brothers stand on the porch with cigarette smoke curling amongst them. Blood coating their bodies.
I help Winter with the helmet, sliding it over the handlebars. Her eyes widen as she takes in the clubhouse. Large with dark stone siding. The Iron Devils emblem on the front door. Most of us have rooms here, others have houses on the property.
Brushing a strand of hair from her face, I sling my arm over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here.”
A bike roars through the gate and we both glance back to see Zero riding in with Jelly sitting behind him. When she dismounts, she takes in the scene much like Winter did. As she approaches the building, she wrinkles her nose. “God, it smells like an ashtray out here.”
Winter and I laugh.
Entering the house, Haze stands from the barstool he was perched on. Red stains his chest and I give him a once over, looking for injuries. Lifting the bloody rag, he says, “Just a broken nose, most of this blood isn’t even mine.” Eyeing Winter, he crosses his arms. “This the birthday girl?”
Winter jerks in surprise. “How did you know?”
“Sweetheart,” Haze gives her a genuine smile. A rare occurrence for him. “You were the talk of the carnival tonight.” Nudging my shoulder, he continues. “This man here hasn’t taken an interest in a woman in two years.”
“Two years?” Winter questions, gazing at me with an expression I can’t quite decipher.
Ramon is lying on the couch, blood oozing from the hole in his thigh. The doctor is administering medicine through an IV, the nurse getting items spread on a stainless-steel tray so he can tend to Ramon’s wound.
Sinner whistles and silence ensues. “Church, now.”
Winter grabs hold of my cut, pressing her body closer to mine. “Hey.” I pinch her chin, tilting her head up so our gazes lock. “You’re okay. You’re safe here.” Pointing to the door on the far-left side of the room, where Sinner disappears through, I say, “I’ll be in that room.”
Jelly takes Winter by the hand. “Come on, we can sit at the bar and drink Rum and Coke.”
Winter doesn’t let go, so I gently pry her fingers from my leather. “It’s okay. Go have a drink. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Sinner has called a meeting, and I need to attend.”
Reluctantly, she releases me and follows her friend to the bar.
Buzzcut nods at me, acknowledging that they are with me and he’ll take care of them in my absence.
When I enter church, I take in my brothers.
Everyone is covered in blood. Some worse than others.
It’s now that the pain of my own gunshot wound registers. Now that the adrenaline has worn off.
“Tonight was personal.” Sinner scrubs his hands down his face. “The Hollow Bones have had it out for us since day one. You all know they’re responsible for my brother’s death, as well as my nephew’s.”
Everyone around the table nods. The younger members didn’t know my father, but they did know my brother, Justin. AKA, Vile. “What’s our plan of action, Prez?” I need to get a plan in action and seek retribution.
Pointing to my wound, Sinner says, “First, we take care of our injuries. I’ll have Haze, Wolf, and Zero scope out the Hollow Bones. Have them gather intel and layout. It’s time we take care of those bastards.”
“Agreed.” I fold my hands in front of me. It’s time they get what they deserve.
Sinner dismisses us and I can’t exit this room fast enough. Winter is sitting on a barstool, sipping a glass of what I assume is Rum and Coke. The instant sees me, she pushes the glass away and hops off the stool. “Thank God, I was going stir-crazy waiting on you.”
Before I can wrap my arms around her, the doctor comes over with a kit, the nurse trailing behind him. “Time to get you looked at.”
Haze drags a chair over for me to sit on. Winter holds my hand, and Zero takes Jelly up to the spare bedroom after she hugs Winter goodnight. Doc cleans my wound and busies himself on stitching me closed.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am once he’s finished. Now that there is no adrenaline running through my veins, exhaustion is setting in. A yawn stretches my mouth wide and Winter traces the side of my face with a fingertip.
It’s nice to feel a woman’s touch. I didn’t think I would ever desire this, to be honest.
“Okay, you’re all set.” Doc reaches in his bag and pulls out a bottle of pills.
“Take these for the pain.” He doesn’t mention how frequently to take them.
There’s no need. With our lifestyle comes many injuries.
Many that require the need for pain medicine.
All of us are well aware of the dangers of these narcotics and we’re very cautious not to abuse them in anyway.
Saying goodnight to the few brothers that are still lingering around, I guide Winter upstairs to my room.
This woman has not let go of me for one minute.
Not that I’m complaining. I’m not. It’s nice to feel wanted.
“You’re safe here, Winter. I swear to you that no one will harm you. Not as long as I live and breathe.”
Resting her head on my shoulder, she relaxes against me. “I believe you, Fang.”
I need to fill her in on the dangers that lie ahead, but that will have to wait until morning. Right now, I’m beat. Emotionally and physically. With Jelly safe down the hall, and Winter safe with me, all I want is to fall into bed and sleep.